Top 10 reasons to cheer on the Ravens

Mike Rutsey's Ravens Top 10

Baltimore Orioles legendary manager Earl Weaver passed away Jan. 19, a sad day for baseball fans, and it would be fitting for the Ravens to come up big on Sunday, another example of the yin and yang of life. Weaver was fearless and one of his more controversial moves while running the O's occurred in Toronto. In the heat of a pennant race (Sept. 13, 1977) when his team sat just 2 1/2 games out of first place, Weaver pulled the O's off the field and forfeited their game against the Jays at the old CNE Stadium when the umpires wouldn't remove the tarps covering the bullpen mounds that were situated in foul territory down. He may have been small in stature but boy did he have big stones.

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10. Crabcakes

Say no more. They are truly manna from heaven.

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9. Divine Intervention

I had a dream last night where Christ returned to earth wearing a Ray Lewis jersey. It's a sign from God, take it to the bank.

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8. Star Spangled Banner

If you happen to be wondering where the words to the U.S. anthem were written, here it is. It was written by Francis Scott Key while witnessing the bombardment of Fort McHenry, located in Baltimore's outer harbour, by the British in 1814 as part of the War of 1812. Yeah, that's the war we had against the Yanks when we kicked their butt. Turnabout is fair play.

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7. Edgar Allan Poe

Perhaps you are one of the few people on the planet that didn't know that the franchise is named the Ravens due to the fact that Baltimore became the home and final resting place of the master of the macabre. Poe resided and penned his works in Baltimore, including his poem 'The Raven', and passed away there under mysterious circumstances in 1849.

6. Babe Ruth

Baltimore also happens to be the birthplace of one of the greatest professional athletes of all time, the legendary Babe Ruth. The 'Bambino' checked into this world on Feb. 6, 1895 and single-handedly turned baseball into America's pastime thanks to his fabled power and home run prowess, matched only by his prowess in downing alcohol and bedding women. If you love the Babe you have to love Baltimore.

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5. Who wants to step on the Ravens' Cinderella playoff run?
Before the playoffs started, a number of pundits selected the 49ers to reach the Super Bowl. Next to nobody picked the Ravens. The 49ers ended the season on a decided rush thanks to the energy that their quarterback Colin Kaepernick supplied. The Ravens, meanwhile, lost four of their final five regular season games and appeared down and out. In the playoffs, though, they've been reborn as they downed Indianapolis, upset the Broncos in a wild one in Denver and took down the arrogant Patriots. They appear to be destiny's child.

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4. Baltimore is blue collar, San Fran is ... well, you know
If you asked your significant other which city they'd rather visit - Baltimore or San Francisco - it would be a stampede to the west coast. They have it all going for them out west, including the earthquakes. Baltimore is tough and gritty and steeped in middle class and working poor traditions and values. So, give a cheer for the working man. Go Ravens.

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3. Baltimore's fling with the CFL

Okay, you want football reasons, here's one: the Baltimore Stallions. Long before the Ravens, Baltimore was home to the Colts and legendary QB Johnny Unitas. But in 1983, owner Robert Irsay packed up the team and shipped it to Indianapolis. The shocked Baltimore fans wouldn't see pro football again until 1994 when the CFL introduced its U.S. expansion. Baltimore went to the Grey Cup and lost to the B.C. Lions that year but the next season (1995) they won the Cup by thrashing the Calgary Stampeders. Even though the Stallions were embraced by the city (37,347 average fans in '94; 30,112 in '95), U.S. expansion came to an end and the Stallions moved to Montreal. They loved the CFL. We love them.

2. The Wire

HBO has developed a number of hit series, none better than The Wire, a drama set in Baltimore that explored the drug scene in that city as seen through the eyes of the drug dealers as well as the various corrupt politicians and police. It ran from 2002 to 2008. The Wire featured a number of unforgettable characters, none more unique than Omar Little, the gay stick-up artist who restricted himself to robbing drug dealers. The Ravens rallying cry should be 'Win one for Omar.'

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There is bound to be plenty of passion from the fans of both the Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco 49ers on Super Bowl Sunday. If you're not a big fan of either team and find yourself without a rooting interest, here are the Top 10 reasons to cheer you heart out for the Baltimore Ravens:

1. Earl Weaver

Baltimore Orioles legendary manager Earl Weaver passed away Jan. 19, a sad day for baseball fans, and it would be fitting for the Ravens to come up big on Sunday, another example of the yin and yang of life. Weaver was fearless and one of his more controversial moves while running the O's occurred in Toronto. In the heat of a pennant race (Sept. 13, 1977) when his team sat just 2 1/2 games out of first place, Weaver pulled the O's off the field and forfeited their game against the Jays at the old CNE Stadium when the umpires wouldn't remove the tarps covering the bullpen mounds that were situated in foul territory down. He may have been small in stature but boy did he have big stones.

2. The Wire

HBO has developed a number of hit series, none better than The Wire, a drama set in Baltimore that explored the drug scene in that city as seen through the eyes of the drug dealers as well as the various corrupt politicians and police. It ran from 2002 to 2008. The Wire featured a number of unforgettable characters, none more unique than Omar Little, the gay stick-up artist who restricted himself to robbing drug dealers. The Ravens rallying cry should be 'Win one for Omar.'

3. Baltimore's fling with the CFL

Okay, you want football reasons, here's one: the Baltimore Stallions. Long before the Ravens, Baltimore was home to the Colts and legendary QB Johnny Unitas. But in 1983, owner Robert Irsay packed up the team and shipped it to Indianapolis. The shocked Baltimore fans wouldn't see pro football again until 1994 when the CFL introduced its U.S. expansion. Baltimore went to the Grey Cup and lost to the B.C. Lions that year but the next season (1995) they won the Cup by thrashing the Calgary Stampeders. Even though the Stallions were embraced by the city (37,347 average fans in '94; 30,112 in '95), U.S. expansion came to an end and the Stallions moved to Montreal. They loved the CFL. We love them.

4. Baltimore is blue collar, San Fran is ... well, you know

If you asked your significant other which city they'd rather visit - Baltimore or San Francisco - it would be a stampede to the west coast. They have it all going for them out west, including the earthquakes. Baltimore is tough and gritty and steeped in middle class and working poor traditions and values. So, give a cheer for the working man. Go Ravens.

5. Who wants to step on the Ravens' Cinderella playoff run

Before the playoffs started, a number of pundits selected the 49ers to reach the Super Bowl. Next to nobody picked the Ravens. The 49ers ended the season on a decided rush thanks to the energy that their quarterback Colin Kaepernick supplied. The Ravens, meanwhile, lost four of their final five regular season games and appeared down and out. In the playoffs, though, they've been reborn as they downed Indianapolis, upset the Broncos in a wild one in Denver and took down the arrogant Patriots. They appear to be destiny's child.

6. Babe Ruth

Baltimore also happens to be the birthplace of one of the greatest professional athletes of all time, the legendary Babe Ruth. The 'Bambino' checked into this world on Feb. 6, 1895 and single-handedly turned baseball into America's pastime thanks to his fabled power and home run prowess, matched only by his prowess in downing alcohol and bedding women. If you love the Babe you have to love Baltimore.

7. Edgar Allan Poe

Perhaps you are one of the few people on the planet that didn't know that the franchise is named the Ravens due to the fact that Baltimore became the home and final resting place of the master of the macabre. Poe resided and penned his works in Baltimore, including his poem 'The Raven', and passed away there under mysterious circumstances in 1849.

8. Star Spangled Banner

If you happen to be wondering where the words to the U.S. anthem were written, here it is. It was written by Francis Scott Key while witnessing the bombardment of Fort McHenry, located in Baltimore's outer harbour, by the British in 1814 as part of the War of 1812. Yeah, that's the war we had against the Yanks when we kicked their butt. Turnabout is fair play.

9. Divine Intervention

I had a dream last night where Christ returned to earth wearing a Ray Lewis jersey. It's a sign from God, take it to the bank.

Top 10 reasons to cheer on the Ravens

There is bound to be plenty of passion from the fans of both the Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco 49ers on Super Bowl Sunday. If you're not a big fan of either team and find yourself without a rooting interest, here are the Top 10 reasons to cheer you heart out for the Baltimore Ravens:

1. Earl Weaver

Baltimore Orioles legendary manager Earl Weaver passed away Jan. 19, a sad day for baseball fans, and it would be fitting for the Ravens to come up big on Sunday, another example of the yin and yang of life. Weaver was fearless and one of his more controversial moves while running the O's occurred in Toronto. In the heat of a pennant race (Sept. 13, 1977) when his team sat just 2 1/2 games out of first place, Weaver pulled the O's off the field and forfeited their game against the Jays at the old CNE Stadium when the umpires wouldn't remove the tarps covering the bullpen mounds that were situated in foul territory down.